Regardless of where we host one of our courses, the majority of the content is essentially the same. We do however have some leeway with a portion of the training to take advantage of the uniqueness of our different locations and to even accommodate subject areas of specific interest to our students.

Our goal… is for students to come away with a solid foundation in permaculture thinking and designing with the confidence to apply it to their own lives and communities.

For most PDC's a $250 Deposit Reserve's Your Seat and the Foundations of Permaculture Webinar Series is sent to you as well. This means you can start your PDC Course any time you wish. Call Becky 815-256-2215 (or text/voice message at 815-782-2216)

“Bill, this PDC course was the best professional development training I have ever had! It was in-depth, practical, hopeful, and applicable everywhere.” Lorenza A. – 60 – School Administrator – PDC Course Graduate

”Bill, I came to earn my PDC Certificate and to learn more about permaculture. I came away looking at the world through a whole new lens. I am thinking about permaculture all the time now. Thank you so much. Loved it.”Lynette S. – (36) Architect

Our Trainings Typically Have Between 10 and 25 Students.

Midwest Permaculture PDC Graduates and their Design Work

Our Foundations of Permaculture Webinar Series Allows Students to Complete Their PDC with 8-Days On Site

Pre-Training Webinar Series makes the Course More Feasible for Many

Traditionally, the 72-hour PDC certificate course is offered over 12-14 days (approx. 6-7 hours/day). Since finding a two week period of time to take a training is a challenge for many, we have create this webinar series that allows our students to do much of the textbook-type learning and reading before the on-site portion begins.

During the on-site portion of our courses we have some sort of learning experience going on mornings, afternoons and evenings for a total of about 9 hours each day. The curriculum is delivered via exercises, hands-on experiences, discussions and classroom lecture. These may seem like relatively long days but most students are energized by the diversity of learning experiences and the simple brilliance of the material covered in a PDC Course itself. Most students tell us the week flew by and was paced perfectly.

We strive to make good use of your time while at our trainings.

“Bill, I was concerned coming in that I would not be able to learn anything by the evening sessions. Not so. With the long meal breaks and the way that you and your team kept the material so interesting, I was fully engaged all day. Great job. I didn’t want the week to end.”Rebecca – 48 – Social Worker

Just weeks after her training: “…they thought that I had been involved with permaculture for at least 5 years. That is a tribute to your teaching abilities Bill. The information and insights that you passed on to me in the training have given me a solid foundation from which to work.”

Cindi – 45 – Mom and Small Business Owner

“Bill, this course has made me rethink everything I do, not only in my garden but in the world! I have been an organic gardener for about 15 years and consider myself a Steward of the Earth but permaculture takes those concepts and applies them in such an all consuming, logical way…it’s mind blowing! I thought I was a composting, mulching, vermicomposting fiend before I attended your class. Now the concept of permaculture has taken me to a new level! Thank you!”

Jason – 40 – Gardener/Landscaper

“Your teaching style is fluent and logical enough that everything hangs together in a memorable delivery Bill. Your expertise of permaculture and even your understanding of the group dynamics were perfect. Please never give up teaching permaculture.”

Note: Clicking on the above links will take you to other locations on our site. Come on back.

Other Key Features of a Midwest Permaculture PDC Course

Using an A-frame

Classroom and Hands-on LearningAs compelling as the PDC Course curriculum is, we know that most of us don’t retain most of what we learn from just sitting in a classroom. Therefore, the on-site portions of our PDC trainings include many hands-on activities and exercises.

Students on a Rooftop Garden

Site Tours/VisitsThere is nothing like seeing something in order to really understand it. Every PDC includes at least one great site visit to a location where permaculture techniques are being appied in multiple ways. Often times there will we be 2 or more site visits.

Actual Permaculture Design ExperienceBecause we will have covered so much ground before the on-site portion of a course with the webinars and the guided self-study, we have time for students to engage in various permaculture design exercises. The best way to learn permaculture design is to do it.

Personal Design Projects All students will be involved in a group design project (or projects) as part of the training, but we also give students a bit of time to work on a personal design project. Students are invited to bring any diagrams, sketches, plant lists or photographs of what they are working on. We would like students to return home with an initial design for their own purposes.

Different Design-Course FeaturesOur courses will naturally vary somewhat by location, but the high quality of the teaching will remain the same. The courses differ by:

The number (and type) of site tours and guest speakers

The size of the class (# of students)

Classroom facilities

Lodging and/or camping options

Classroom days and hours

Which meals are served

Every course we host has a full description of the individual details on a separate webpage. Please see our course schedule which will link you to each of our trainings.

Research on Final Design Project

Continuing Support Following GraduationStudents who have completed a Midwest Permaculture design course are then invited to become part of our growing network of graduates. There are three ways we work to support our students:

We have a separate website where all Midwest Permaculture graduates can connect, share ideas and look for some assistance from each other.

We host occasional permaculture reunions for our graduates and their families.

Our objective is to support our students for as long as they need it or want it, and to encourage them to support each other.

“This course was outstanding. The best value in my history of education! Thanks.”

Jeff R. – 38 – Advertising Business Owner

Begin ImmediatelyA student’s Design Certification Training begins when they sign up for a course. Shortly after registering, students receive a welcome email that gives them immediate access to the Foundations of Permaculture webinar series, including over 2-dozen handouts. The course textbook (The Earth User’s Guide to Permaculture) and a DVD copy of the webinars will arrive via snail mail a few days later.

“The information, design methods, networking, and even food were beyond my expectations. Taking this course has re-ignited a fire in me that had been only embers. There is hope for the human species.”

Ron N. —60, Landscape architect

Already A Permaculture Design Course Graduate?We do offer a 33% discount to students who have graduated from any other recognized PDC course (from anywhere in the world) who wish to take a Midwest Permaculture course as a refresher. The discount only applies if there are open slots in the intended course. Please email for details.

“I just wanted to thank you and Becky for a wonderful week. I learned much more than I expected. I have been asked about giving some permaculture classes by our local community college in Cleveland. Thanks for the confidence you instilled in me!”

Sean K.-45, Homeowner with 2-Acres

Please contact Becky at Midwest Permaculture for further information or for over-the-phone registration.

If one is seriously interested in learning about permaculture but cannot commit at this time to a certification course, the webinars and self-study features of our design courses can be enjoyed now. Students will gain a solid foundation in permaculture from their own home. It includes 14-hours of recorded webinars, our PDC Course textbook, 150-Study Questions and links to over 3-dozen selected resources.

And the full $195 for this webinar series applies toward any of our design certificate courses for a period of up to three years.

Thank you so much for offering the webinar-only option. I plan to take a certification class within the next couple of years, but these webinars allowed me to really bring together the self-study and in-the-dirt projects I've been working on. THANKS!"

"Permaculture looks at life squarely in the face and simply asks the questions;What is?How do things really work?

It then lays out multiple paths toward building abundance, security and health into our living systems to benefit humans AND the natural world that sustains all life.

It is honest. It is realistic. It is powerful."

- Bill Wilson Midwest Permaculture

From a 2014 PDC Graduate..."Bill and Becky, I see the possibilities now. I walked my same streets today and am seeing things completely different. My husband said I seem the most relaxed I've ever been and I've known him for 16 years. An amazing PDC course.Thank you."

From 2014 PDC Graduate..."As a permie-head, I had read all the books and seen all the videos. I was just taking the PDC to get my certificate, but I learned SO MUCH MORE..! This tied it all together Bill. I GOT IT! Not only do I now know how to design, but why to design as well.
Thank You Midwest Permaculture"